‘Crazy for You’ loaded with unforgettable Gershwin songs

Combine more than 20 unforgettable Gershwin songs like “I Got Rhythm” and “Someone to Watch Over Me” with lots of fabulous dancing and a comical boy-meets-girl love story and you get “Crazy for You,” the rousing, Tony Award-winning musical that closes the 2012 Music Circus Season, at Wells Fargo Pavilion Aug, 28 through Sept. 2.

Winner of the 1992 Tony Award for Best New Musical, “Crazy for You” has everything you love about good old-fashioned musical comedy, making it a show that all ages will enjoy.

Playing Bobby Child, a 1930s New Yorker who goes all the way to a nearly abandoned Nevada mining town to find the girl of his dreams, will be award-winning Broadway song-and-dance man Noah Racey, who has performed on Broadway in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Follies,” “Curtains” and “Never Gonna Dance.” Playing the feisty Polly Baker, the object of Bobby’s affection, will be Anne Horak, whose Broadway and touring credits include “Young Frankenstein” and “White Christmas.”

Aaron Serotsky, who played in “August: Osage County” on Broadway and in the 2011 Music Circus production of “Oliver!,” will play Lank Hawkins. Elisa Van Duyne, whose Broadway credits include “Finian’s Rainbow,” “110 In The Shade” and “Beauty and the Beast,” will play Irene Roth. Matthew Shepard, whose Broadway credits include “Wonderful Town,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel” and “Beauty and the Beast,” will play Bela Zangler. Mother will be played by Broadway veteran Alix Korey, whose Broadway credits include “All Shook Up,” “45 Seconds from Broadway” and “Chicago.” In the ensemble is Luke Hawkins, a Sacramento native who now lives in New York City and who, in addition to performing in a number of Music Circus shows, has both Broadway and regional theater credits.

“Crazy for You,” with book by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and music by George Gershwin, features the songs “Embraceable You,” “Shall We Dance?,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” among many other Gershwin favorites. The Broadway production, which opened in 1992 and ran for nearly four years, won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Choreography (Susan Stroman), as well as Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Choreography.

This will be the third Music Circus production of the show.

The 2012 Music Circus production of “Crazy for You” will be directed by James Brennan, who was the last person to play the role of Bobby Child in the Broadway production. The choreographer is Deanna L. Dys and music director is Dennis Castellano.

Music Circus productions are presented at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, 1419 H St. in Sacramento. Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Thursday and Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $30. Tickets are available by phone at (916) 557-1999, online at tickets.com, or in person at the Wells Fargo Pavilion box office.

“Crazy for You” is the final show of the highly successful 62nd Music Circus season. For more information visit SacramentoMusicCircus.com.